Closing Date Extended for WAMBA Junior State Team

Nominations now close on Tuesday 22nd September

WAMBA would like to advise that the closing date for nominations for the WAMBA National MTB Championships Junior State Team has been extended to COB Tuesday 22nd September (from 31st August).

This gives all of our junior riders the chance to race their respective age groups in the State Championships (DH and/or XC) before submitting their application to be part of the state team.

Further to this, any junior rider who wins their age group race at their state championships will be viewed favourably for selection in the state team.

Selected riders will join other experienced riders who have had great performances throughout the last 12 months - providing that rider chooses to be part of the state team by submitting an application before the closing date of 22nd September.

DSR - Women in Sport and Recreation Program

Are you seeking development, management and leadership opportunities in the sport and recreation industry?

Women have always been involved in sport and recreation at many levels and the number of women in leadership roles within sport and recreation in Western Australia is growing.

The Department of Sport and Recreation has committed to provide support, resources and professional development for women seeking development, management and leadership opportunities in the sport and recreation industry. The Women in Sport and Recreation Program is designed to develop a pipeline of women leaders currently not on a State Sporting Association board and improve their personal effectiveness at all levels.

The Women in Sport and Recreation Program is seeking fifteen (15) women who have a passion for sport and recreation who aspire to be leaders in the industry to join out launch program.

The program is open state wide and regional women are encouraged to apply for the program. There is a current initiative to also be able to provide funding for travel to regional women to be able to attend the module/s in which they choose, as the program will be in Perth.

Response to the selection criteria (as outlined in the application form)

Send applications by 5.00pm on Wednesday 12 August 2015 to:

Jaimi Rumbold

Project Officer – People Development

Department of Sport and Recreation

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any queries or questions regarding the program, please do not hesitate to contact Jaimi Rumbold on (08) 9492 9719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2016 WAMBA National MTB Championships Junior State Team

Call for Nominations - Under 19, Under 17 and Under 15

WAMBA is calling for nominations for the 2016WAMBA National Mountain Bike Championships Junior State Team to attend the MTBA National Mountain Bike Championships, being held on Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th March 2016 in Bright, Victoria.

The State Team will consist of riders who wish to compete in either or all of the following disciplines: Downhill, Cross Country and Observe Trials.

Riders are to be aged between 13 and 18 years, with the exception of some exceptional great Under 13 riders who wish to do the downhill event (providing they have good references from a personal coach).

This team works together as a collective of athletes and will be supervised under the direction of the Team Manager/ Head Coach. Parent helpers are required to provide assistance to the team in support roles and athletes manage their own logistics. State team selected riders are eligible to receive Department of Sport and Recreation funding, as well as other Government funding (if they meet the requirements).

The National Mountain Bike Championships is an open event to any rider, whether you are a State Team member or not. This means that riders who do not make the team can still compete and travel with the rest of the State team, if they wish to. The riders who do not make the team may not be eligible for some of the Government funding, will not be eligible to wear any state team clothing, or take part in any team photos.

However, we encourage all WA riders and families to support each other for the betterment of the sport.

Photo: 2015 WAMBA National MTB Championships Junior State Team

Selection Panel

Selection of the WAMBA Junior State Team will be conducted by the WAMBA State Selection Panel, which consists of the following members:

WAMBA President - Louise Wallace

WAMBA Racing Council Chair - Tony Tucknott

WAMBA Junior Development Coordinator - Graeme Adams

Peel Districts Mountain Bike Club President - Paul De Klerk

WestCycle Operations Manager - Toby Hodgson

Nomination Form

Nomination is required on the WAMBA Junior State Team Nomination Form. A Word version of the form can be requested by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nomination forms and other accompanying documents are to be submitted by close of businessMonday 31st August 2015.

Applications can be made via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by regular mail to:

General questions regarding operational issues, such as state team travel shall be directed to WestCycle via the Team Manager – email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Questions regarding team selection shall be directed to the Chairman of Selectors, via WestCycle Operations Manager – email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western Australian Mountain Bike Management Guidelines

Mountain bike management gears up with the release of the WA Mountain Bike Management Guidelines

The Mountain Bike Working Group is pleased to release the draft Western Australian Mountain Bike Management Guidelines for public comment.

Mountain Biking is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in WA, and this document will provide the framework required to support both the mountain bike community and land managers in developing high quality new trails to meet this significant demand.

The primary aim of the WA Mountain Bike Management Guidelines is to provide a well-defined framework to support the local mountain bike community and land managers develop trails that:

are of high quality

meet the requirements of riders of all abilities

are sustainable, providing long term enjoyment for users with minimal maintenance cost

are graded according to an internationally recognised system

able to provide for a range of MTB disciplines and skill levels

facilitate rapid upgrades and additions to existing networks

minimise impact to the natural environment in which they are located

The development of these guidelines was a community based project, facilitated by the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW). A working group was established to develop a framework that meets the needs listed above, with representation from the mountain bike community, trail builders and relevant government entities.

This release is a chance for you to have your say, and ensure the document is able to meet the diverse needs of the WA mountain bike community.

The guidelines combine local experience and knowledge, with world’s best practice from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and consultants such as Dafydd Davis, the renowned trail guru responsible for the development of the legendary Coed-y-Brenin mountain bike park in Wales.

This document is also being tested `live` for the development of the Murray Valley, City of Cockburn’ Manning Park Mountain Bike Project, Margaret River Bramley National Park, Wellington National Park and Pemberton trails. This process will ensure practical feedback is also available to further refine the guidelines, and make them as relevant as possible to those who will use them.

Thank you to everyone involved for their time and effort in getting the guidelines to this stage.

Celebrating the Launch of Western Australian Mountain Bike Strategy

After nearly three years of work, WAMBA and Westcycle are delighted to celebrate the launch of the Western Australian Mountain Bike Strategy - Unlocking the Potential.

WA Minister for Environment, Hon. Albert Jacob MLA; WAMBA President, Louise Wallace and Westcycle CEO, Matt Fulton fronted the media this morning at Herdsman Lake to officially launch the Strategy, which provides a clear statewide approach to coordinating and developing mountain biking in Western Australia over the period 2015 – 2020.

Western Australia is the cycling capital of Australia with 23% of people riding a bike compared to a national average of 19%. Mountain biking is one of the State’s fastest growing recreational, sport and tourism activities. Almost 120,000 mountain bikes are bought every year in WA alone. The time is therefore right for a clear statewide approach to coordinating and developing mountain biking in Western Australia. The State has the diverse environments and outstanding scenery to support a thriving mountain biking industry and grow into a world-class mountain bike destination.

“There has been a surge in mountain biking as a recreational activity in recent years. With demand for mountain bike trails and suitable facilities exceeding supply in many areas, the Strategy identifies the gaps and provides a framework for us to fill them” said Louise Wallace, President of WAMBA.

According to WAMBA’s President, the Strategy will enable even more Western Australians and visitors to get riding, and provide a range of high quality and sustainable trails for new and existing mountain bikers to enjoy.

“Western Australia is home to some iconic and extraordinary experiences and the Strategy shows how we can make mountain biking one of them,” says Matt Fulton, WestCycle CEO. He said the Strategy is a significant document for mountain biking in WA and the result of nearly three years of work by WAMBA, WestCycle, the mountain bike community, Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) and Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR).

The Strategy identifies and targets five core objectives to deliver its vision:

Planning and Governance

Participation

Trails, Facilities and Infrastructure

Tourism and Marketing

Resourcing

This is an extremely exciting phase, as it will lead to more trails on the ground, stimulate the growth of a vibrant mountain biking community and increase tourism opportunities across the regions.

WAMBA advocates for partnerships between community groups, government, local business and the corporate sector to support the growth of mountain biking.

WestCycle calls on Western Australians to become involved in one of the State’s fastest growing activities. Ongoing funding and sustained focus will be required to fully realise the Strategy’s vision for mountain biking and the tremendous opportunities that are on our doorstep.

A consultation draft of the Strategy was released in October 2014 seeking public comments. Submissions were received from 35 organisations and individuals. All comments were reviewed and taken into account during the finalisation of the Strategy. A copy of the Strategy, as well as the responses and actions to the public consultation comments can be downloaded here: